Depression and College

September 13, 2016

Brooke Bartak, LMHP, PLADC

College is supposed to be the ‘best time of your life’, right? There are new social situations, a breadth of knowledge to be learned, and new living arrangements. All of these changes can be very exciting, however for those living with depression; it might be the recipe for a nightmare.

Depression can have many symptoms and is often characterized by more feelings than just sadness. Many depressed people don’t even report sadness as their primary emotion. Some just say they feel ‘numb’ or like nothing at all. Oftentimes, depression makes you irritable and you may notice you are snapping at your roommate about things that would have never bothered you in the past. Others may find it too draining or intimidating to be around others, causing them to isolate themselves and feel extremely wiped out after a day of classes. Sleep abnormalities are also indicative of depression. Either you can’t get enough sleep or feel the grips of insomnia every night when you lay down. Unfortunately, weight changes signify something might be wrong, too. There is a stereotype that depressed people lose weight and have no appetite. That is definitely true for some, however for others, insatiable appetite and weight gain occurs.

All of these signs and symptoms are the formula for depression and as a result, make you feel miserable. What was supposed to be a fun and exciting time in your life, makes you want to stay holed up or sleep the day away. What I’m telling you now is, your life doesn’t have to be this way. There are many reasons depression occurs and for some the transition to college is enough to send you into a tailspin. It is a noble step to take care of yourself and seek help.

Coming to therapy can be beneficial in many ways. It can give you an outlet to express everything that is going on and can assist you in getting on the right track. You will have a nonjudgmental place to discuss your thoughts and feelings and be able to go back to your classes and roommates with new techniques to manage your symptoms. It is my belief that you already want to feel better and just need some tools to assist you in getting there. Don’t feel unhappy for another second, call or book online today, I’m here to help!